U.S. snowboarding star Chloe Kim will compete in 2026 Winter Olympics despite shoulder injury
The two-time defending Olympic gold medalist will compete in Italy next month
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1 min read
Chloe Kim, the two-time defending Olympic gold medalist in women's snowboard halfpipe, will be able to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics despite suffering a torn labrum in her shoulder after a recent awkward fall in practice.
Kim posted a video on Tuesday to provide an update following her MRI, which confirmed a torn labrum but no other damage in her shoulder. The challenge for Kim will be fighting off rust, as she won't be cleared to get back on a board until just before the Games begin in Milano Cortina on Feb. 6.
"I have good news and bad news. I'll start with the bad news which is that a tore my labrum, which I expected," Kim said in her video. "The good news is that I just tore my labrum, and I guess there are two different ways to do it and the way I did it is less severe than the other. Obviously I'm really disappointed that I can't snowboard until right before the Olympics, which is going to be hard, I haven't gotten nearly the amount of reps that I would've liked. … But again, I'm so grateful that I will be good to go for the Olympics."
Last Friday, Kim announced she dislocated her shoulder in her second day of training for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Kim posted a video to Instagram providing an update on her injury as well as video of the fall, which appeared to be a freak accident as her board got caught in the snow as she went up the wall of the halfpipe and she fell shoulder first into the face of the halfpipe wall.
"I'm currently in Switzerland, and on my second day training, I took the silliest fall," Kim said. "And that ultimately resulted in me dislocating my shoulder. Just so fun."
Kim is an eight-time X Games gold medalist in superpipe to go along with her two Olympic gold medals, and figures to be among the favorites again in Milano Cortina. However, after pulling out of the final tune-up event with an undisclosed injury at the U.S. Grand Prix in December, her dislocated shoulder suffered in Switzerland creates an additional unwanted delay in her preparations for the Games as she aims for a gold medal three-peat.
